Chapter 43
1604
“We will be leaving in a fortnight’s time, Grizel, to journey to Northamptonshire to meet Their Majesties and deliver the young prince safely to them. Ensure preparations are made,” Alexander commanded. “We should be away for about three months.”
I could not speak, I was so shocked that he wanted me to get up from my lying-in bed and go on such a long journey. It had only been six weeks since our daughter was born, and I was still in pain.
I’d heard him come into my bedroom and sit down at my bedside, then he pulled at my arm to ensure I was awake. I emerged from the covers and glanced at his face. I shuffled up the bed and ventured, “But what of our own little Charles?”
He gave me a withering look. “What of him?”
“He is only little and he needs his Mama. As does the baby.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Grizel. Charles has Nurse to look after him and the baby has the wet nurse. Now get up and stop feeling sorry for yourself. We have much to prepare.”
He had a look on his face that I had come to know and so I forced a smile; it was what he expected.
“That’s more like it. Now, another thing. I shall expect you to wear the parure when we are in Their Majesties’ company. So ensure your maid packs it; I have not seen you wear it for some time. Once you are up and dressed I shall come and select which gowns are suitable for the journey. You may need more made.”
“There is hardly enough time for…”
“I shall tell you if you need more.” He cut me off. “On the journey south, I shall prepare you for how to act at Court. The prince 202 shall travel close beside us all the way and so, for once, you will attempt to look interested in him.”
“But, Alexander, I have tried.”
“No, you have not tried. You have been so obsessed with our own children that the royal child has been ignored by you. It is fortunate I have had time to tutor him myself.”
“The baby has taken a lot out of me,” I said feebly.
“She has a name. Will you ever call her by it?”
I swallowed. When my husband insisted our daughter take her name, I was shocked and can still hardly bear to say it. I prefer to spend time in the nursery with our little Charles, who is usually fit and healthy, unless my husband insists our son spends some time playing with the prince whose runny noses and chesty coughs seem to immediately transfer to my darling boy.
My husband stood. “Oh, and I need you to write to Aunt Marie Seton too. Tell her about our journey south and about the birth of little Lilias. She has written me three letters now and I simply do not have the time to write back to her. Tell her I intend to come over to France at some stage to see my wine merchants, and shall hope to pay her a visit, but for now, my energy is with the King and his family.”
He smiled and headed for the door.
Dear Sister Marie,
My husband Alexander, your nephew, has asked me to write to you with the news from Fyvie Castle, for he regrets he has not had time to answer your kind letters. I hope this finds you in good health. Alexander says you have suffered from some aches and pains and I know from personal experience how debilitating that can be. I still 203 have pains after the birth of our second child.
Charles, our firstborn, is now two years old and a happier little boy you could not find. He is also, God be praised, healthy, with a good appetite, though he is sometimes prone to chills.
I cannot blame the prince in a letter to my husband’s aunt, though I know it is only when he has been in the nursery to play with my son that my Charles becomes ill.
He is now walking well and saying some words, though only Nurse and I can fully understand what those words might be. I think you will have heard that he has a playmate, the royal Prince Charles, who, though four years old, is shorter than our own boy. He came to us a weak and sickly child, but now can walk up and down every stair at Fyvie Castle. His speech has also improved a good deal, with my husband tutoring him daily. It is time, therefore, for him to leave us and return to his family in England.
Thank God. The sight of all those people fawning around him has been too much to bear. And then when I see him rushing over, with his disgusting, phlegm-covered nose, to hug my own dear boy, it breaks my heart. Keep your sickliness to yourself, I would cry inwardly.
Alexander and I leave next week for Northamptonshire to meet the King and Queen and to hand over the royal child. It will be a moment of great joy for my husband, who has been so honoured to be given the responsibility of caring for the royal prince. We shall be away for three months, during which time I shall miss our son badly.
I gave birth to a healthy girl six weeks ago and Alexander decided to name her Lilias. I know Lilias Seton was a friend of yours and 204 so I am sure you will be delighted with this name. For one so little, she has powerful lungs and is both chubby and robust.
I cannot possibly write that I am simply unable to say her name, it is so painful for me. One night, when my husband was in a talkative and cheerful mood, I decided to ask him a question about something that had been troubling me.
“Alexander, after Catherine left today, it occurred to me that she must still be sad that her sister is no longer with her. I was wondering: I know she is buried in Fife, but I don’t actually know how Lilias died.”
He turned towards me and grabbed one of my wrists. “That is none of your business, Grizel. She died tragically young and left four children motherless. That is all you need to know.” Then he stormed out, leaving me to rub my wrist to avoid the bruises that now regularly appeared.
The blossom has been wonderful at Fyvie all summer and has remained in bloom for longer than ever before, the gardeners say. The flowers give me great pleasure when I take a walk in the gardens with our son. I do so enjoy their scent outside, though I confess I find the aroma of any flowers inside, especially roses, rather overpowering.
I couldn’t write that, when I used to see the green shape on those black moonless nights, hovering near where my parure’s kept, there was always the smell of roses, and I have become so terrified, the maid now sleeps in my room every night.
I do hope this finds you well and I shall write again after our journey south with the royal prince.
Until then, I am your faithful niece,
Grizel Seton